venable



March l1 1924. 1,486,206

w. M. vl-:NABLE BIN Filed 001;. 20, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f WM March 11 1924.

W. M. VENABLE BIN Filed Oct. 20, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 v /Z/ ma Y ,f/ J. f 1f-y .f J;

March 11 1924. 11,486,206

W. M. VENABLE BIN Filed Oct. 20, 1.922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. l1, 19.24.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.`-}

WILLIAM M. VENABLE, F PITTSBURGH. PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR T0 BLAW-KNOI COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BINf

Application tiled ctober 20, 1922. Serial No. 595,727. i

To all lwhom if 11mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, 'naaanl- M no `\'i :x.\ BLE, a citizen ot the United States. residing -at Pittsburgh. in the eonnt'lv of Allegheny l and State of Peimsvlvania. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bins, of which the following is a spceitication.

The present invention relates to bins useful for storing materials in bulk: and it is concerned both with the general construction of the bin. and with its adaptation. `when desired. to equipment for delivering its contents in detinite quantities or charges. l5 vOne important object of the invention is to simplify, strengthen. and lighten the construction of the bin. and to minimize the i structural material required and the total cost of lnannfaetuie and installation. A 2 `further aim is to eeonomize space and minimiz'e the height of the structure in eases.

wherevthe bin is equipped with subjacent charge or hatch-measnring meansI (e. g.. Asuch as that disclosed in the application ol Albert F. Garlinghonse and 'illialn M. Venable, Serial No. 539.391. tiled in the yUnited States latent Office lf`ebruary 2i', 1922. and assigned to' the assignee of this al'iplieation) by arranging measuring means and supporting framing in the sante headroom. Another object is to provide a hin construction with a diseharge gate arrangement sneh that charges ol' dili'erent kinds of materials may be drawn from the hin and measured synchronously. to be snbsequently discharged property portioneil.

How these and other advantagesl can be realized through the invention will bet-ome apparent t'roxn the des-:ription hereinafter 40 of the best embodiments known with partief nlar reterenee to their adaptation and use for storing and dispensing materials t`or` mnureto,-snrh as broken or erushed stone. pebbles or gravel'. cinders or slag. sand. et e. ln the drawings; Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bin eonvenientlv embodying my invention. et nip ed with measuring means snrh as diselosetllin the above-mentioned application Serial No. 539,391

Fig. 2 is a View from the left of Fig. 1, with' 'the upper portion of the structure in section as indicated by the line 1-f2 in that ligure. t

Fig. 3 is a general plan view.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentar)Y view illustrating. the construction of the bin shell, with parts in section. as indicated by the line 4-.1 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is another fraginentar View illtistrating the construction of the .binshlh 00 with parts in sections as indicated by the line 5-5 in Fi r. 2. 'i

Fig. tis a etached side view the transverse bir. frames.

Fig. 't' is a View similar to Fig. Q illus-.J5 trating a modification of the frameshowni in Fig. (l, and indicating an application of the bin shell er lining diterent from that shown in Figs.. 1-5. 1

The structure illustrated in Figs. 1 toftl'm comprises a' bin proper or shell for enntaining the materials to be storedthat issupported and held in shape. by training. of

ione: of

.struct ural st eel. spanned het ween lateealsnp- 7 ports suitably separated to a ti'ord space for trnek to drive between thenrleneath the-bin.` As shown (Figs. l and 2). rows of steel columns or posts 1t) support horizontal gir-dersl t4 and on the latter rest transversely extending sustaining trames- 1'1. (Figsg and (i) or truss-ed eonstruetion. and ot general V or U shape. that are` braced and spaced apart bv angle bars lil, 14.15 extending lengthwise along the Vtop alge 0f the bin and at intermediate points ttt v.its height. The trough-like rontaiuer shell (See Figs. t. 2 and Il) romprises` a lining lt' there ot. longitudinallv extending planks) resting on and sernred to the transverse frames l2. and end bulkheads l-T (of vertical planlirgl mounted on the lining 'and se rarely held in plaee bi external'aml internal vledgesl lh'. ttt (likewise of wood) -fastened to the lining (see also Fig. 4). t

As here shown. the end bulleheatls 17 ara. additienallv stitl'ened and held b e angle bars 2t) 'extending along their upper edges and secured tothe end tramesv lizbv exterl nal horizontal wales 2l.` (see also l"ig..5) at intermediate points in their heighteby;v upright internal angle bars 22. seeured to the frames12 and to the transverse top ede 4 angle bars 20 at their upper and lower` ends,

chords, with the members y ner common to beam and secured respectively; and b horizontal an le bars 23 extendin len wise over the in and secured at t eir ends to the to angle bars '20. As shown, the bin is divi ed into two com artments by an internal-longitudinal artition 25 formed b `vertical lank-whose ower ends are bolt/ei?Y between ongitudinal a le bars 26 fastened to the bin frames 12, an whoseupper ends are held between the lon 'tudinal angle bars 23. The partition 25 is further stiiened with longitudinal members 27 bolted to it at either side. At suitable intervals in its length, angle bar stays 28 extend transversely across the to of the bin, being secured to the correspon in transverse 4frame (or frames) 12 at their en s and at intermediatepoints to the angle bars 23, so as tokeep the portion 25 propin line. 4 v ferring, now, more especially to Figs. 2l and 6, it will be seen that from a structural point of view each of the transverse truss frames .12 of the shell-sustaining `frame structure may be regarded under two as cts.

nder one aspect, each of the frames 12 may be regarded as composed `of 1- two inclined triangular trussed sustaining mem-` bers resting on the su ports 10, 11 at their obtuse' `intermediatef ower corners 30, and braced againstrockngnward or outward relative to one another by being connected together or united at their acute lowercorners or ends 31 andA by the in,terconnecting transverse member 32. vUnder this as t, the external sides or chord membersof t iese inclined trian lar trusses consist of the airs of an le ars 33, 34, 35, and 36 (which ast exten s all the way across-from one obtuse corner to the other), and the iemaining double angle bar members 37,l 38,

39 vand 40 serve as internal bracing against the various stresses towhich the sides are subjected at intermediate points in their length,-while the member 41 braces the parallel members 36 and 32 the one relatively' to the other. v

Or, under another aspect, the bin frame. work asa whole may be regarded as comof a straddling lower structure (including the lateral supports 10, 1l with -tra'nsverse beam truss members, pus finlar cantilever truss members to t e ends of said beam, members. and upstanding from them. Under this aspect, the transverse beam truss com rises the members 32, 36 as .upper and ower 9, 40, 35, 'and 41 as internal bracing; while the 'opstanding cantilevers comprise the members 34, 33, and 87, 38.. The members 39 are in a mancantilever frame clined trian members.

For convenience ip the ,frames triangular side trusses.

" Mecano 12 will usually be built and riveted up accordin to the three part theory just descri that is to say, the two cantilevers and the beam will be riveted up and shipped Y separate (with the members 39 forming art of the beam), and only assembled and lted together as one unit by the erecting Vforce on the job. Referring, now, more especially to Fig.

'2it will be seen that inthe construction of gs. 1 to 6 the plankin 16 and the steel plating 42 that form the ttom of the bin shell rest on the` frame members 32, while the lankin 16 that forms the sides of the in she rests on the frame members 34 and (when, the shell is carried to the full height shown) on prolongations of the members 33 beyond their connection with the members 34 at the upper coi-ner of the Accordingl the members 32 and 34 are made of su cient depth to `have ample beam strength for resisting the bending stresses due to the correslonding shell walls and the distributed loa im osed by the bin contents. There Ais no di culty in arranginhelmenbersdm' e tie in si es with suitable slope to ena to feed the contents between the posts 10, to the rows of bottom openings in the plating 42 near the center of the bin, one row at each side of the partition 25.

As shown in Figs. '2 and 6, the len h of the members 32 and the width of the in at the bottom are less than the span between the posts 10 and the length of the horizontal trusses whose lower chords are the members 36. Oni the other hand, the top of the bin is wider than the span between the posts 10. Under all conditions of loading, the weight is transmitted to the' lateral supports 10, 11, through the members 39 and l33, which are always in compression as struts. The members are generally in tension as stays, and the member 41 generally in compression as a strut.- When the bin is partially loaded with a pile in the middle, principally on the bottom, the weight is transmitted almost entirely through the members 39, and the members 32 are in compression. Under this l condition, therefore, the behavior of the structure approximates the three part theory explained above.l When, on the other hand, the bin is further filled, the outward `pressure of its contents on the sides gradually increases the stress in theA members 33, until when the bin is heapin full they carry most of the load. Under t is latter'condition, the members 32 act in tension to prevent the sides from swinging outward, and the4 behavior of the structure rather approximates the' two part theory. explained members 36.

this case, the balance of the bin as a whole and of its structural halves over the posts l() (which muri-ally is only roughly approximate) becomes very close.

From 2 and (i. it will be seen the strueturtl transversely sway braced" against wind pressure by coaction of the nicml'wrs lo with angle bar members 43 connected bracht-twisc between the posts 1t) and thc gusset'. plates 44 by which the lower ends of said members are connected to tho liongitndinally, the Structure is sway-braced against wind pressure by angle bar members 4.3 connected between the upper and lower ends of adjacent posts 10.

Referring. now. to Figs. 2 and 6, and regarding the slraddlingly mounted bin in its entirety, it `will be found to present a simpler and more unitary structural aspect than appears in the foregoing piecemeal analysis.

In this light, it will be seen, the Structure `consists essentially of lateral supporting means extending substantially to the top of the bin at either side, and composed of the columnar subslructures 10, etc., with the strut members 33 secured thereto. These lateral supporting means 10. 33 are intercon nected by the members 36 spanned between v them,--or, indeed, by the girder members ais 412 in their entirety. The horizontal mem ber is braced to the lower portions 10 of the lateral supporting means by the members 43; and to their upper portions 33 by the members 34, 35,-01', if the girder member 412 as a -whole be considered, by the members 34 alone. The flat bottom 42 of the trough-like containin shell is secured to and sustained by the eep horizontal girder .412, and its sloping sides secured to the sloping members 34.

In a sense, the members 33 and 34 (with their interconnectingmembers 37, 38, and even 39 and 4(1) may be regarded as together constituting tlieupper portions of the lateral supportin means interconnected by the member 4 ikewise, the members v10, 11, 43 together may be regarded as their lower portions.

The outflow or discharge of .material from the bottom openings of the bin is controlled by rates 4G. which run between platehnngers 47 bolted to the bottom plates 42, on rollers 48 resting on angle bar tracks 49 secured to said plates 47. Thesehangrers 47 also support depending charge-measuring containers or hopper-s 50 and 51 made up ot`4 vertically tclcscopinpr sections. and adjustable in capat-ii y according to the amounts and relative proportiom of materials that it may be desired to draw from cach compartment of the hin. ,Ext-cpt for (he duplication or exten- 'ision inquired by the division of the bin into compirtmcnts and 'he provision .of two separato openings in each gate 46, so that when nnened it acts to till the two corresponding hoppers 50 and 51 concurrently with the different materials from the two compartments, the arrangements and operation o' bottom plates 4'2, gates 46, hangers 4T, and hopper-s 50, 51` ctc.. are entirely similar to those of the application above referred to. slmu'nv` there are four sets of double gates 4G and corresponding hopper pairs 50, 51, ctc., one set for each interval between the l'ranu's 12. Fox-each ,frate 46, accordingly, there is an opi-ratinglever 53 hanging down from a fnlcrnm 54 on the longitudinal lateral angle bar 14 to within reach from the 2f vrorynd. and connected to the grate by a link rod 55: while the hitch actuatingIr cablcsior chains for the selfclosing counterweiglited downward swinging' discharge doors`56, 57 of the hoppcrs 50. 51 are connected together to a common cable or chain 58 similarly hanging down from a pulley 59 on the adjacent frame 12.

lf, thcreforeffor instance. the small bin compartnn-nt is illcd with sand and the larg(- one with crushed stone, and it is dcsired to supply and convey to a mixer a batch comprising 8 cn. ft. of sand and 12 en. ft. of sione.s to be mixed with 4 cn. ft. of cement (for a 1: 2'. 3: mixture by volume), all that is necessary is to set a pair of hoplpers :i0 and 51 to holdi cu. ft. and 12 cu.

tioned charges without the truck being moved at. all. f

From Figs. 1 and 2, it will readily be seen that the vertical extent or depth of the bin framing' l2 below its bottom (represented by the height. of the transverse truss beams) 1s utilized for two different purposes: to acconnnodatc the measuring hoppers 50, 51.,l

and to grirc substantial de th to the vertical trussinpr that transmits tie weight of the loaded bin to the lateral supports 10, 11'. ',lhus, on tbc one hand, the posts 10 need be no longer than the headroom required for trucks: while` on the other hand, the trans` versc truss beams can bc (und preferably arc) made o1 the full' depth of the hoppers 5U, ."1 when extended for maximum capacity, without the total height from the ground to the bin bottom being any more than is rcquircd to assure the necessary headroom for trucks below the hoppers. Owing to the ample dcpth of training brnvatl` the bin thus made possible. to the partial balance of the bin when heavily loaded, a@ already explained, and to various other features of the sup Vrting structure, the total 'amount of stee Athat is required to sustain a given quantit),v of material in the bin at a height where it can be fed b v gra'y ity is surprisingly small.

Fig. 7 illustrates a bin construction more specially suitable and advantageous in cases where measuring hoppers Aare not to be used.- lHere. it will be seen, the members 33 and 36 (shown as I beams or channels) vreceive the plank lining, instead of the members 34 and 32. and are therefore the members of depth to resist bending' stresses from the distributed loa d .imposed b v the contents of the bin. The other members 34, 32, etc...

of the frames 12 are inside the bin instead of outside; so that for frames 12 of the same over-all dimensions. the bili capacity is much greater than in Fig'. 1. Structurally, the raming 12 presents the saine double aspect as in t e Fig. 1 bin construction; and the variations of stress in the several members with variations of loading are of the same sort.

It will be understood, of couise, that besides admitting of many minor changes like variation in length of the bin or of the nuinber of frames 12, replacement of wood planking with steel plating iii the construction of the shell, etc., the invention can be carried out, and its advantages realized to a reater or less degree, in a great variety of orms and modifications.

I claim;

1. A straddlingly mounted bin including supports separated to a'ord passage for vehicles between them under the bin, a containing shell, and sustaiiiinv framing for said shell comprising incline members resting on said supports at an intermediate point in their length and braced together against rocking on said supports.

2. A straddlingly mounted bin including supports separatedto afford assage for ve hicles between ythemV under tibo bin. a containing sliell, and sustaining framing for said shell comprising inclined members resting on said supports at an intermediate point in' their lengt-li and connected together at their lower ends, and a transverse member interconnecting said inclined members to brace themv against rocking on said supports. 3. A bin including supports; framing comprising inclined sustaining members resting on said supports at an intermediate point in their length and connected together at the lower ends, with transverse interconnection above said lower ends to brace'tlicm together; and a containing shell withsides and bottom carriedifby said inclined members and said interconnection, respectively.

truqes resting on said supports at one corsup orts and upstanding cantilevers secured to t ie ends of said beams, and a containing shell with sides carried by said cantilevers and bottom carried by said beams.

7. A bin including supports, framing coiuprisin trussed beanis extending'fbetwecn said sup orts and' upstandin triangular cantilever trusses secured to sai beams, and a' containing shell with sides and bottom carried by chord members of said t'u'sses.

8. A bin including supports, a r@staining shell, trian lar upstanding cantilever trusses for sustaining the sides'of said shell, and transverse truss beamsl for sustaining the bottom of said shell comprising lower chords extending between said supports and interconnecting the lowermost corners of said cantilever trusses, upper chords inter connecting the other lower corners of. said cantilever trusses, and bracing 'means Vfor preventing collapse.

9. A bin frame including a bottom truss beam adapted to rest on spaced suplports and comprising upper' and lower c ords, struts interconnecting their ends, and bracing means for4 preventing collapse; and cantilever trusses upstanding from said bottom truss and ci'ifinprisingv upper and lower chord members connected to. the ends of its corres riding chords; a chord member of each o the' aforesaid trusses being adapted to act as a beam for sustainin a correspending wall of the bin shell an the distributed load imposed by the bin contents.

10. A bin frame including a vbottom truss beam adapted to rest on spaced supports and comprising upper and lower c ords, struts interconnecting said chords at'ends and middle,l andstays connectin the ends of the upper chord with the mi dle of the lower chord; and cantilever trusses upstanding from said bottom truss and comprisi upper: and lower chord members oonnec to the ends of its corresponding chords and 'connected together at their upper onda. Y 11. A char ing bin comprising a. containing shell, a rame structure for said shell extending substantially below it, with room for a vehicle underneath and charge measuring means accommodated the frame structure below the shell.

12. A charging bin including a containvi'.

sis'r inthe extent of ing shell, means for supportin said shell comprisingsubjacent beams wit room .for a truck therebeneath, and char e measurin means accommodated in the ifepth of sai beams.

F13. A charging bin including a contain- 'ing shell, vertically trussed supporting 'means for said shell extending substantially `therebelow, with room for a vehicle underneath, and charge measuring containers accommodated in the'extent of the truss structure below the shell.

14. A charging -bin including a containing shell, means for supportin said shell from beneath comprising a stra dling structure with transveise members of substantial depth below the shell and room for a vehicle 'beneath said members, and charge measuring means beneath Said shell accommodated iii the depth of said transverse members.

15. A charging bin including a containing shell with sloping sides; supporting means for said shell including lateral supports, and sustaining members inclined in conformity with the slope of the bin sides resting on said supports at an intermediate point in their length and extendin substantially below the bottom of the she: and charge measurin containers accommo ated in the extent o said members below the bottom of said shell.

16. The combination `Vith a bin divided into compartments, of means for controllably discharging material from said'comartinents, measuring means receiving the ischarge from the respective compartments, said measuring means being separately adjustable to vary the roportions of ingredients from them in a batch, and means separate from said bin-discharging means for controlling the discharge from said measurmg means.

17. The combination with a bin divided into compartments, of a common gate oittrolling the discharge from said compartments, measuring means receiving the discharge from the respective compartments `separately adjustable to vary 'the amount ldrawn from each compartment, and means for concurrently discharging said measuring means operable independently of saidij gate.

18. The combination with a bin divided into compartments, of horizontally moving gate means at the bin bottom for discharging material from the compartments, charge measuring containers receiving the discharge from said gate means verticali adjustable in capacity independently o one another, and means at the bottoms of said containers for controlling their discharge.

19. The combination with a bin divided into compartments, of a common discharge gate having separate openings for said compartments and movable iii the line of said openings to open and close, subpicent charge measuring containers rccei ving the discharge and adjustable in capacity indcpeiulcntly ol one another, and means at the bottoms ot' said containers for controlling their discharge.

20. A bin construction comprising, in combination, a containing shell, :i U-slinpcd supporting truss frame for the shelland separated lateral supports at the base of the truss frame.

21. A bin construction including parts constituting :i containing shell and a troughlike supporting frame composed ot' interconnected sich1 and bottoni members so disposed that when the bin is lightly loaded bottoni members are substantially under compression and when licavili loaded aresubstantially nuclei' tension and afford support for side members.

22. A bin construction comprising,in combination, a shell and a supporting frame composed of side and bottom members connected so that the outward thrust on one side member is translated by a bottom member into an inward ull on the other side member, thereby pro ucing substantially balanced load conditions.

23. A straddlingly mounted bin with passage for vehicles underneath, com rising supporting meansextending substantially to the top of the bin at either side, and a horizontal girdeispanned between such supporting means and sustaining the bin bottom.

24. A straddlingly mounted bin with passage for vehicles underneath, comprising siippcrting means extending substantially to the top of the binat either side, a deep` giriler spanned between such supportin means and sustaining the bin bottoni, an

'means bracing said grider to the lower portions of said supporting means.

25. A straddlmglyl mounted bin with passage for vehicles underneath, com rising supporting means extending substantiallyto the top of the bin at either side, a horizontal girder spanned between such supporting means at an intermediate point in their height, and a troughlike containing shell conforming vto the space between said supporting means above said girder.

26. A straddlingly mounted bin with passage for vehicles underneath, comprising supporting means extending substantially to the top of the bin at either side, and a hori-- zontal member interconnecting said supporting means at a level affording headroom beneath, with braces extending from said horizontal memberto said supporting means. 27. A sti'addingly mounted bin with passage for vehicles underneath, com rising supporting means extending substantially to the top of the bin. at either side, and a horizontal member interconnecting Said supportilo ing means at a level aiordin headroom be neatli, with braces extending rom said horizontal member to the upper and lower portions of said suppoitngmeans. 5 28. A straddlinglymonnted bin with lab eral supports separated to aiord passage-for vehicles between them under the bin, and comprising outer members extending substantially to the top of the bin, a horizontal member interconnecting said outer members, and n trough-like containing shell, with means bracing snid horizontal member to, the upper portions of said outer members.

29. A strnddlngly mounted bin with-hit- 16 eral supports separated to afford passagev f or vehicles between comprising,r outer members extending substantially to the top of the bin, a horizontal member interconnectingsaid outer members, 20 members sloping inward from the upper porthem under the hin, und

tions of said outer members to'said horimntal member, and a trou h-like-A containing shell with sides and fiat ottom secured to said sloping inembers'and said horizontal member, 'iespectivelyx A r 30. The combination with individual material supply compartments, of discharge conti-o1 means therefor havin actuating mechanism for concurrently disc arg`n g terinl from said' compartments, snblyfixit 80 charge ineasuirin containers4 reoeivmge a )ustable in capacity miledisclinre and pendent y of one another, and means se :irate from the aforesaidtliscliarge contro lingl ineens for controlling the from said measuring containers.

In testimony Whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

WILLIAM M. VEN-ABLE.

discharge 

